Sarkozy seeks key far-right votes (French presidential elections)

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: BBC News

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is wooing far-right voters after losing narrowly to his Socialist rival in the presidential election's first round.

Francois Hollande came top with 28.6% and Mr Sarkozy got 27.1% - the first time a sitting president has lost in the first round.

Third-place Marine Le Pen took the largest share of the vote her far-right National Front has ever won, with 18%.

Referring to her voters, Mr Sarkozy said: "I have heard you."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17814785

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When Sark the Shark says "I have heard you...", it's a dog whistle signalling that, during the next 2 weeks (until the 2nd and definitive round takes place on May 6th), he'll be spewing more and more radical right-wing racist crap to attract as many of those Le Pen crazies as possible.

[cstanleytech]

1. Setting aside the whole far right vs socialist aspect which of the two is the better choice that is

more likely to be able to help get france out of the economic problems it has in the shortest amount of time with the least damage?

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Paradoxically, by coming from the left and

tacking towards the center, Hollande may be better positioned to convince the labor unions and general French public to accept some unwelcome reforms in the top-heavy civil service.

Sarkozy has lost much credibility due to his arrogance and lack of connection with "le peuple". He cannot lead if nobody will follow.

Hollande may also serve as a fire wall against the more extreme "austerity" measures being proposed by the right at the European level.

As goes Europe, so goes France. For better or worse, the EU will sink or swim together.

[DonCoquixote]

3. I am rooting for Hollande, but

Sarko really does know how to milk fear of Arabs. Of course, if the right does well, Merkel will use that, which means that Germany will establish influence over Paris, the same sort that many Europeans and Americans died to avoid. I do not mean to demonize Germany as I know many leftist Germans are wondering what the Hell happened to their nation.

[Stephanie Kopf]

4. Sarkozy

He sure sounds desperate. I'm curious to see what will happen and how the rest of the European Union will react and act.

[dharmamarx]

5. But is the alternative more "socialist" austerity?

It really sucks that the choice (again) seems to be between crazy crypto-fascist right-wingers and nominally Left (here "Socialist&quot parties pushing (gentler) austerity. Why do we keep having European Socialist parties supporting austerity? This article claims that the rise of the Le Pen's fascists is due to the Left's (Hollande's Socialist Party) failure to resist austerity. Do we need to create an explicitly anti-capitalist Left to silence the right's craziness?

[DallasNE]

6. According To One Source

Exit polling showed that many Le Pen voters have a real dislike for Sarkozy and around 28% of them would vote for Hollande. Dislike is a hard thing to overcome because it doesn't hinge on policy. While Sarkozy may have heard the voters he may not be in a position to do much about it given the exit polling data.

[Eugene]

7. France election: Sarkozy rules out deal with Le Pen

Source: BBC

25 April 2012 Last updated at 11:15 GMT

France election: Sarkozy rules out deal with Le Pen

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ruled out doing any election deal with the far-right National Front but said its voters should not be demonised.

"There will be no agreement with the National Front, and no (National Front) ministers," he told France Info radio.

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"We need to speak to the 18% who voted for Marine Le Pen," Mr Sarkozy said.

"I don't regard this 18% as people with extreme-right ideas... but I don't want ministers from the National Front. I've never wanted that."

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17837195